Let’s start with expressing ability! We use can, be able to and could to show that someone has (or doesn’t have) an ability to do something. Look at these examples:
Present/Future
|
Negative |
Past Ability |
Negative |
Alan can swim well. |
Jackie cannot play piano. |
Paul could speak Chinese when he was a child. |
Mary couldn’t finish her homework last night. |
I can meet you after school. |
We can’t visit Vancouver this weekend. |
Last night, there were no clouds in the sky and they could see all the stars. |
You couldn’t find the website this morning, could you? |
I am able to speak two languages. |
I am not able to speak Arabic. |
After three weeks in an Italian restaurant, I was able to bake a decent pizza. |
I wasn’t able to finish my test yesterday. |
Did you notice that the verbs after “can/could/be able to” are always in the simple form?
For example: Alan can swim well (subject + auxiliary verb + simple verb + ...)
Do NOT change the modal auxiliary OR the main verb for he/she/it subjects.
In addition, do NOT add “ing” or “ed”.
How can we make questions about ability? It’s easy!
Note: We do not need the verbs “do/does/did” when we make questions!
The modal verb “be able to” includes the word “to”; the “to” is not an infinitive.